Swami teaches...Ways of unification of the individual with the Divine

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Light and Love Swami teaches.... (2 -3 June 2005) Ways of

Unification of the Individual with the Divine

Today human being carried away by delusions. If Brahma will manifest in

front of person, then the salutations with reverence and devotion will follow.

But if the same Brahma appears in the form of an ant and bites person, he/she

will immediately kill it. You say God is present even in an ant, then why do

you kill it? It is your bad and rush thoughts that activate this action.

When a small pebble is thrown into a lake, the ripples spread all over the

lake. Likewise, the 'ripples' that arise in the lake of mind when a pebble of

thought is thrown into it; spread to all the senses and so human behavior,

whether good or bad is based on the thoughts.

Human is born out of Amrita (immortality) but is merging in Anrita

(falsehood). What is the use of leading such a life? Today human is highly

intelligent and acquires all types of education. He should set an ideal to the

society. Human should understand that education is at first for sharing and

serving and having a compassion to all creatures and far not so much for

earning money. Education is meant for Dharmaacharana (practice of

righteousness) and not for Dhanaarjana (acquiring wealth). Do not be proud of

wealth, relations or youth. All these may be taken away in a single moment by

the Lord of Time (Kala).

Today the devotees read many sacred books and listen to discourses, but

there is no transformation in the mind. All these sacred texts and teachings

are like jewels which do not give you bliss. The bliss is within, you should

experience it. When God is ready to give you the limitless non-dual bliss, why

do you crave for limited happiness? Do not ask for mean things. Offer yourself

to God, then God will grant you everything. A foolish one does not know

himself in spite of all his education. One has to study to be immortal. Vedas

declared, "Srunvanth Viswe Amruthasya Puthraha". You are the son of

immortality. Understand and experience this.

 

Everyone acknowledge that constant churning of curds yields butter.

Similarly on constant enquiry one at last finds the spiritual Truth. When

the diamond is cut repeatedly it shines with added brilliance and its value

also increases. Similarly, in order to experience divinity within, one has to

face many obstacles. However, the devotion should never diminish, but vice

versa.

Human aspires for God and contemplates on Him constantly, but it is not

enough to experience God. One has to totally offer himself to experience Him

that you and He become one. You are human only in form, but your nature is

divine. Whatever that is thought, said or done is only due to the presence of

Atma. God is the object and you are the reflection. The purpose of the

spiritual pursuits lies in the unification of the object and the reflection.

Different methods of worshipping and rituals correspond to the outward path

(Pravritthi Maarga) which should lead you take to inward path (Nivritthi

Maarga). The worship and other rituals are only physical and worldly

activities. You have to enter Nivritthi (inward path) from this Pravritthi

(outward path). All these rituals as outward paths are essential till you

realize that God is one.

Once Narada went to Lord Narayana and said, "Narayana, I come for your

darshan whenever I have any problem. But I do not know where exactly you

reside? Where can I find you? In Kailasa, Vaikunta or Swarga? Then Narayana

said, "Narada, I will give you My permanent address. "Wherever My devotees sing

My glory, I install Myself there." Kailasa, Vaikunta and Swarga are My branch

offices. God is not present in foreign land, He is present in our Heart. Heart

does not mean physical heart. It means spiritual Heart. You should not have

the feeling that God is the master and you are His servant. The individual

(Nara) and the Divine (Narayana) are one. Divinity is changeless, eternal and

is present in you. Pictorially the combination of water and milk can be termed

Sathsanga. When the milk is boiled, the water gets evaporated. The milk unable

to bear the separation from water tries to jump into the fire. The moment you

sprinkle some water on the boiling milk, it gets pacified. The milk is happy on

being united with its friend. The same relationship exists between Nara and

Narayana. God is happy when the individual joins His company. But God feels sad

when the individual diverts his attention from Him, being immersed in worldly

pleasures. Once the individual surrenders completely to God, He is happy again.

 

However, due to the effects of Kali age, the individual separates himself

from God. The individual may not feel sad, but God feels sad because His

friend, the individual, is parting ways with Him. God is the only permanent

friend in this world.

You should take to spiritual path in order to understand this principle of

unity and should make every effort to experience oneness. This is for your own

sake. God does not ask for anything. When you want to be close to God, you do

not need to go through sacred texts or undertake great spiritual exercises when

you have a skill to obtain the close inner contact with God. Rituals and reading

of holy texts are worldly actions. They are meant to give external

satisfaction, but every human being has to make own efforts to experience inner

satisfaction.

 

It is sacred Gayatri that leads the devotee towards the greatest and the

noblest path of devotion, from

outward path to inward path.

Who is Gayathri? It is Pancha Mukhi (deity with five faces). The first face

is the Primal Sound 'Aum'. Bhur Bhuvah Suvah' is the second face. 'Tat Savitur

Varenyam' is the third face. 'Bhaargo Devasya Dheemahi' is the fourth face.

'Dhi Yo Yonah Prachodayat' is the fifth face. Gayathri is the mother of the

Vedas. Gayathri has three names - Gayathri, Saavitri and Saraswathi. Gayathri

redeems the chanter of the manthra and is the master of the senses. Saavitri is

the master of Praana (Life Force). Saraswathi is the presiding Deity of Speech.

You have to unify your senses, life principle and your speech and offer to God.

'Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha' refer to the three worlds - Bhuloka, Bhuvarloka and

Suvarloka. All these three worlds are present in you and in every living

creature. Bhur refers to the body, made up of five elements (materialization).

The same five elements constitute the entire world. Bhuvah refers to the Praana

Shakthi (vibration), which makes the body move. However it is the presence of

Prajnaanam i.e., Suvaha (radiation) that enables the Praana Shakthi to animate

the body. The Vedas have declared it is "Prajnaanam Brahma" (Constant

Integrated Awareness is Brahman). This Constant Integrated, Awareness is

present in human.

The primordial basis for these five elements is the primordial sound Omkara.

These five elements form the life-basis for the entire universe. That is why

earth is referred to as Bhoodevi, water as Gangadevi, fire as Agnideva and air

as Vaayudeva. There is no need to search for God elsewhere. He dwells in your

heart and called Hridayavaasi (indweller of the heart). It is this Hridaya that

is your dwelling place. God neither comes nor goes. He is present all over, all

the time. But in order to confer grace on a devotee He may manifest Himself. It

is the devotion that makes God manifest Himself on whatever corner of the

planet.

 

Gayathri Manthra consists of three parts. One is praise, second is prayer

and third is meditation. The first nine words of Gayathri Manthra (Om, Bhur,

Bhuvaha, Suvaha, Tat, Savitur, Varenyam, Bhargo, Devasya) correspond to the

description (praise) of Gayathri. Dheemahi pertains to meditation. "Dhiyoyonah

Prachodayat" is the prayer to God to confer the steady and pure intellect. The

Divine is first praised and meditated upon and then an appeal is made to the

Divine to awaken and strengthen the intellect (Buddhi). So, first and foremost

you should extol God with a feeling of intimacy. The son will never shower

lavish praises on his father when he asks for a new dress. Instead he demands

rightfully. A devotee too has a similar right to demand from God. Hridaya

(spiritual Heart) is the son of Atma. From Hridaya mind is born. So mind is the

grandson of Atma. Hridaya, mind and speech belong to the divine family and have

got a share in the divine property being in constant communion with God.

From a physical point of view you may consider yourself different from God.

In the mental realm you should feel that you are the spark of the Divine. But

from the Atmic point of view, you should realize that you are not different

from God. Once you understand this principle of unity, wherever you are, you

are one with God.

To reach this state of Liberation, offer yourself completely. It means just

as the essence of food becomes one with your body, likewise let your Love be

unified with Swami's Love. Then you will become one with Swami. Light the lamp

of Love in you. Even the worldly activities will become spiritual if you have

Love. You can do your office work or business, you can take care of your

family; but whatever you do, do it as an offering to God. It is the devotion

that protects one from problems and accusations.

Today there is no steadiness of mind. Once Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was

giving a discourse in a temple. Rani Rasamani, the owner of the temple was

sitting in the front row. All were listening to Ramakrishna's discourse with

rapt attention. All of a sudden Ramakrishna got up, went to Rani Rasamani and

slapped on her cheek. Ramakrishna told the public, "O people, you may think it

is a great mistake on my part to have slapped her. What for have you come? You

are here to listen to my teachings. Whether you practice or not, at least you

should listen to what is being said. This Rani Rasamani is thinking of her

legal disputes. Why should she come all the way to think of the court affairs?"

In the modern age many people attend spiritual discourses and get impressed by

them. But they do not put them into practice.

The effect of modern education is such that the student studies mathematics,

but does not know the measurements of his own house. He practices drill everyday

but does not know how to sit in Padmasana posture. In society there are

agitation and disturbances. Today human does bad deeds, but is not prepared to

face the consequences. Do good, be happy and share your happiness with others,

this is your duty. With such sacred feelings, contemplate on the Lotus Feet of

the Lord.

It is the feet that help us to move. But some people think that face is more

sacred than the feet. But it is said, "Paada Darshanam Paapa Naashanam", (Vision

of the Lord's Feet destroys all sins). The feet carry the body, which is the

temple of God. No doubt the external worship of feet is important. As you

continue to worship the Lotus Feet, they will naturally get installed as the

internal state in your Heart.

There is a story how Krishna taught to follow His footprints Gopikas who had

intense love for Him. But everyday Krishna would go to their houses along with

His playmates to steal butter. The Gopikas did not know how to catch Krishna.

One day they went to Yashoda and complained, "O Mother, your Krishna is

creating havoc in our houses. Our mothers-in-law think that we steal the butter

and put the blame on Krishna. The acts of your son are causing a lot of

inconvenience to us". Mother Yashoda also noticed this. Krishna had always

eluded the gopikas after playing His mischief. One day they all lay in wait to

catch Krishna. Krishna out of compassion for them wanted to provide a clue by

which they could trace Him. Krishna went into a house stealthily and broke a

pot of milk and dipped His feet in it. When gopikas came to catch Him, He

vanished in a trice. Then the gopikas followed His footprints, which revealed

to them his hide out. Krishna revealed to them the spiritual truth that if they

clung to the feet of the Lord, they could win His grace. In order to please God,

follow His footprints. Those that take refuge at the feet of the Lord, they will

neither sin nor be miserable. With sincere devotion when you take refuge at the

feet of the Lord and contemplate on them, you will not have desires. The

fulfillment of worship of the Lotus Feet lies in the unification of the

individual with the Divine. You should not worship Paadukas for worldly gains.

You should worship them for gains in the inward path.

Once upon a time Jaya and Vijaya (doorkeepers of Vaikunta) approached Lord

Vishnu and asked Him, "Swami, why have you created the Meru (gold) mountain?"

Then Vishnu replied, "One who is desireless will be unmindful of its (golden

mountain) existence. But the one full of desires will never be satisfied even

if hundred such golden mountains are given to him. I have created this Meru

mountain in order to make you desireless."

Aim at the Meru mountain itself, that is the Lotus Feet of the Lord.

(Reet's compilation from, Bhagavan Sathya sai Baba. The Divine Discourse

"Devotion, Duty and Discipline." 12 Oct 1998, Prashanti Nilayam; Bhagavan

Sathya sai Baba. The Divine Discourse " Install Sai Padukas in Your Heart." 11

Oct 1998, Prashanti Nilayam).

 

Namaste - Reet